Riverside rezoning to go to public open house

Council looks to tour site of campground

Council wants community feedback on the proposed next phase of
development at the Riverside Campground.

Despite some concerns from the mayor and council, the rezoning
application was recently moved forward for review at a public open house.

“I realize that the project has become highly politicized,”
said Councillor Ralph Forsyth.

Like his colleagues, he had outstanding questions about the
project, which would see the next phase of the campground development, on the
east side of Fitzsimmons Creek, replace some of the planned tent camping sites
with yurts and add an indoor/outdoor spa.

Forsyth said he wanted to hear from other spa owners in
Whistler to see if they had any concerns about increased competition.

He also called on council to take a tour of the site to see
first-hand what the Riverside owners are proposing in the rezoning.

The last council meeting on Monday, Aug. 20 marked the third
time the project has been before council since April. Each time Councillor
Nancy Wilhelm-Morden has voiced her discomfort with some aspects of the
rezoning.

“There’s a bit of spin going on here,” said the councillor, who
reminded council again of Riverside’s history.

The project was approved in three phases in the late 1990s. In
2002 the owners advised municipal staff that it could not meet the timeframes
for the phased development as set out in the covenants and were working on
solutions. The proposed solutions are to reduce the number of walk-in tent
sites, add yurt sites and bring in Le Scandinave Spa.

Wilhelm-Morden cautioned that the developer was pushing the
project to the open house stage at his own risk.

“I still have a considerable number of questions,” she added.

Mayor Ken Melamed also had several questions and urged the
community to ask those questions as it considered the project at the public
open house.

What will the yurts become? Is this camping? Will it compete
with other accommodation sectors in the resort like bed and breakfasts?

“I’m really concerned about the yurts and the loss of the tent
sites,” said the mayor.

Patrick St. Arnaud, with La Scandinave Spa in Mont Tremblant,
reiterated that the unique spa experience would not compete with existing
businesses, but rather enhance the health and wellness product offered in
Whistler.

He also said the developers are committed to reducing their
energy footprint — another concern raised by council.

The municipality has not yet set a date for the public open
house.

Last phase of Nicklaus North considered

Plans are underway to build on the last remaining piece of land
connected with the Nicklaus North development.

The landowner, Green Lake Projects Inc., has applied to
municipal hall for permission to build out 39 single-family homes on the west
side of the highway at Nicklaus North.

The land can only be developed once all community amenities
associated with the Nicklaus North development have been delivered.

Staff has negotiated with the developer to change some of those
outstanding amenities.

And so, instead of building a Mons Road extension and a
Fitzsimmons Creek bridge and trail network, both of which were negotiated 12
years ago when the project first came to council, several new amenities are
proposed.

They include, among other things:

• installing a pedestrian-activated signal at the intersection
of Highway 99 and Nicklaus North Boulevard to provide a safe crossing point for
Valley Trail and transit users;

• installing a Valley Trail bridge over the River of Golden
Dreams on the west side of Highway 99. This would provide a thoroughfare from
the pedestrian signal to the Meadow Park Sports Centre;

Council was to have considered the staff report at the last
council meeting on Monday, Aug. 20 but it was removed from the agenda due to
time constraints. It is expected the report will be back before council at the
next meeting.